Tension In Akwa Ibom As Governor’s Aide Joins APC

Mr. Ibanga Etang, an aide to Governor Udom Emmanuel of Akwa Ibom State, has defected to the All Progressive Congress.

A few months ago, the governor’s Special Assistant on Electoral Matters, Mr. Chris Okorie, also dumped the People’s Democratic Party for APC.

Emmanuel was elected on the platform of PDP.

Etang, a former chairman of Esit Eket Local Government, resigned on April 9 as Special Assistant to the Governor on Projects and formally registered with the APC at his Etebi Ward 7 along with over 300 followers on April 10.

Addressing his supporters at a post-defection meeting on Friday, Etang said that, with their entry into APC, the party stood 70 per cent chance of winning Esit Eket Local Government Area.

Etang said he left the PDP because of “impunity.”

“I blame the continuing exodus from the Esit Eket PDP on a situation where an individual takes Esit Eket as his personal property,” he stated.

The News Agency of Nigeria reports that Etang had also served as Special Assistant to former Governor Godswill Akpabio, also of PDP.

In his resignation letter to Governor Emmanuel, Etang said he left because it was “necessary to depart now, in line with the dictates of my conscience and highest level of sincerity.”

Receiving the new members, a former member of the House of Representatives, Mr. Bassey Dan-Abia Jnr, said the APC has been increasing in number, and expressed optimism that the party would take over the state in 2019.

NAN reports that seven chieftains of the PDP in the local government have so far joined APC.